George Coleman, Sr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Largely self-taught, he learned how to play the alto saxophone when his older brother Lucian Adams brought one home from school.

After working with various acts in Memphis, including writing arrangements for Ray Charles, Coleman started working with B.B. King in 1953, at which point he switched to tenor saxophone earning a place in blues history with the sax solo on B.B. King‘s chart topping song, “Woke Up This Morning” (RPM Records, 1953). In 1956, George moved to Chicago, along with Booker Little.

The bustling jazz scene brought him together with local heavyweights like Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, John Gilmore and he joined Walter Perkins’ group, The MJT + 3. When Max Roach heard George with this unit in 1958, he invited him to join his own quartet featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet 1958–1959.

We follow his career highlighting his time with the legendary Miles Davis from 1963-1964 through the forming of his own quintet, Octet groups in the 70s, 80s, & 90s right into his current quartet format today.

In 2015, he became an NEA Jazz Master, the highest national honor for a jazz musician in the US.

George Coleman, Jr. states, “I’m very excited to be working with Sterling and that we were finally able to collaborate. With their experience, creativity and passion, we know “Another Kind of Soul” will be a great success!”

***George Coleman & George Coleman, Jr. are available for interviews and appearances***